This Is How I Fight My Battles

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” 1 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV)

Day 6: This is How I Fight My Battles

“It may look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by you…”
“Surrounded”, Lyrics by Ellyssa Smith (UPPERROOM)

Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

Hannah replied, “The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah, his wife, and God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.
1 Samuel 1:12-19 (The Message)

Hannah’s husband must have been quite perplexed to see his wife distraught each time she returned from the temple. The story tells us that year after year. Hannah faced the same disappointment – the inability to have a baby. To make matters worse, she was ridiculed for her infertility. I have had several friends struggle with infertility. The pain and disappointment they felt was agonizing. Many who have walked through the pain of infertility feel frustrated and desperate. Scripture tells us that “Hannah was reduced to tears.” Yet, as a result of her deep grief, she prayed. Possibly harder than she ever had.

The passage says Hannah “…pulled herself together, (and) slipped away quietly to the sanctuary.” She passed Eli, the priest at the entrance to the Temple. I like to imagine that Eli wondered, why the rush? But “Crushed in soul. Hannah cried and cried–inconsolably…” –as she prayed to the Lord. There was an urgency to her prayer. A desperation. A deep pain.

She was praying to God so hard that day, she caught Eli’s attention. As he watched her closely, “…Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved but no sound was heard”

Eli thought she was drunk so he confronted her. I have this picture in my mind that Hannah was startled, dried her tears, wiped her nose with the edge of her dress (I added this part) and courageously defended herself.

She said, “Don’t get so judgy Eli, “…the only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart…I am desperately unhappy and in such pain…” Major props to Eli – he saw that she was in pain and did one of the kindest things he could do. He blessed her and promised to pray for her that she may receive what she has asked.

Hannah, with her burdens lifted, got up. “She went her way,”…ate heartily, her face radiant.”

Then, she and her family. “…worshipped God and went home.” I wonder if this time of worship was any different. Hannah was now changed. Her shame had been lifted by the God who heard her prayer.

When I’ve been in a posture of waiting, I’ve learned to rely on God in multiple ways. Here are a few things I learned that may prove helpful to you:

Pour out your heart to God. I love the vision of Hannah that as she prayed, her lips were moving, but nothing was coming out. In the same way, we can pour out our hearts to God. He hears us. He is the keeper of our deepest secrets. He came to heal and restore the broken places of our life.
Bless Up. I love that Eli’s response was to bless Hannah. He may not have understood what was happening, but he could see that Hannah was in pain plus she told him so. Therefore, he believed her, didn’t dismiss her pain, and blessed her. This is a great reminder that when caring for a friend or loved one in crisis, bless them through prayer and your presence.
Worship while waiting. As she waited on God’s timing, Hannah worshipped. I recently read a great quote about trust from the author, Paula Rinehart who wrote, “Trust…waits in the cool shade of surrender.” I love that. Hannah’s struggles with infertility had yet to be resolved. After all, she didn’t suddenly become pregnant. She had to trust God’s outcome.

Hannah was in the process. While in the posture of waiting, “God began making the necessary arrangements to what she had asked.”(v.19)

Reflection: Is there a situation where you’ve been waiting on God to transform you? What reminders from this passage encouraged you the most while you wait? Where can you love someone through your actions? Choose one of the following songs and listen. Then say the following prayer.

Song suggestion:
“Surrounded” (Artist : UpperRoom)

“Just for Me” (Artist : Kirk Franklin)

Prayer (by Nicky Gumbel, author of the free Bible reading app the Bible in One Year)

“Lord, I thank you for amazing answers to prayers when I pour out my soul to you. Thank you that sometimes you answer my prayers in remarkable ways. But whether I receive what I specifically ask for or not, thank you for promising me peace. Amen.”